Girl, 12, sold as bride

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 38183, 24 March 1973, Page 7

Girl, 12, sold as bride

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyrights ASHEVILLE (North Carlolina), March 22. Authorities say a “very nice looking" 12-year-old girl is willing to marry a 37-year-old man who bought her for SUS3O,OOO from her parents in Illinois, but she also wants to go back to school, United Press International reported. The girl was picked up with Harold Miller, of Oak Park. Illinois, at a motel on

Tuesday while on their way to South Carolina to marry. She is being held in a foster home pending the arrival of Illinois officials with legal orders for her return to that state. Miller, a graduate art 1 student and teacher’s aide at the University of Illinois, was | arrested on a charge of [felonious conspiracy filed in • Illinois and on a local charge I of false registration at a . ‘motel. Authorities said the : parents of the girl, Fred and :

Rita Flynn, of Boilingbrook.‘ Illinois, had been charged: with conspiracy and child: abandonment. Authorities in Illinois said] the alleged purchase ap-; parently developed out of a; conversation between Miller! and Flynn in a taxi that] Flynn drives for a living. ; An Ashville police officer,: Sergeant W. G. Kelly, said; the girl “wanted to marry i the man, but she said she: would also like to return to; Illinois and go back to school.” j